List of First Aid Supplies

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Doing these things when the dog is in good health is a good idea so that you note what your dogs normal vitals are. Also when there is a possible illness you may be more nervous and do it improperly so that is is not a correct assessment.  When you call your vet tell him about the dogs Vitals.

All dogs pant when they are hot or excited. If it is all the time then you could assess his vitals. If they are abnormal you can give your vet a call.

Normal / Abnormal

How to do it?

Normal Heart Rate

Puppies 70-180 beats/minute

Dogs 70-120 beats/minute, (larger breeds)

abnormal can be Above or below. I would check what your dogs normal is when it is healthy.

To Check Heart Rate

Put hand on heart, count for 15 seconds and multiply by 4. Also try taking it by locating the dog's pulse along the femoral artery (inner thigh) or under the arm.

checking pulse can also be important in assessing the dogs vital signs.

Normal Respiratory Rate

Puppies 15-40 breaths/minute
Dogs 10-30 breaths/minute.

abnormal can be Above or below .I would check what your dogs normal is when it is healthy.

Type of breathing ?

You Should note the type of breathing,

Normal Chest wall is moving.

Abnormal is if while breathing the abdomen is expanding instead of the chest on inhalation, loud gasping sounds, shallow breathing, contact your my vet.

To Check Respiratory Rate

You count breaths by putting hand on flank, Chest wall movement is normal breathing and is what you are counting.

Normal Temperature is 100.5F -102.5 F (38.0 C- 39.1 C)

I would check what your dogs normal is when it is healthy.

Abnormal is above or below, it can signal many things You should contact your my vet.

To Check Temperature

Use rectal or digital thermometer, use of a lubricant would be best

Color of gums or color of skin below the eye
Normal colors are Bright pink color of the gums indicates good blood circulation and oxygenation going to the tissues.
Abnormal colors are dark red, blue , yellow, blue or white gums can indicate heat exhaustions, shock, hemorrhaging, extreme loss of blood, or anemia.

contact your my vet.

To Check the color of mucous membranes

Lift your pet's upper or lower lip or using Eyes pull down lower lid gently  pink, white, yellow or blue colors of the mucous membranes are colors
 

Capillary Refill Time or C.R.T. indicates the dogs circulatory function or presence of anemia or Low blood volume.

Normal CRT 1 to 2 seconds

Abnormal CRT is Less than 1 second or longer than 3 seconds. contact your my vet.

To Check CRT

Press on gums the realest and count how many seconds it takes to resume starting color.

Checking for dehydration
if an animal has been vomiting or has diarrhea It could get dehydrated easily.

Normal  skin bounces back upon releasing almost immediately, after it was pulled up.

Abnormal If it takes 2 seconds to bounce back or stands up in the position grasped is a sign of dehydration. contact your my vet.

To Check for dehydration

Grasp the skin between the shoulder blades pulling it up.